Gender Typing

Gender Typing

Gender typing begins as soon as a child enters the world, from the pink outfit for the girls and the blue outfit for the boys. Gender typing is gender-linked preferences and behaviors valued by the larger society. Even when parents try to avoid gender typing, for example, giving children toys outside of their “gender” (boy given a doll) or treating both genders similarly (rough-play with a girl), as the child gets older gender roles will form. “A wealth of evidence reveals that family influences, encouragement by teachers and peers, and examples in the broader social environment combine to promote the vigorous gender typing of early childhood,” (Berk, 264). The book states about the social environment and its effect on gender roles.

As stated previously by Berk, the social environment affects a child’s gender role. In Parents Magazine, “The Difference Between Boys and Girls” is discussed from a biological and environmental view. According to Parents magazine boys and girls brains’ develop differently and each gender is naturally drawn to certain things without any influences. For example, studies found that the part of the brain that processes language develops faster in girls than boys. Another example is that the part of the brain that handles perception develops faster in boys than girls. This also ties to boys’ motor skills developing faster and attraction to toys that move. Girls’ brains are bigger in an area that interprets events and triggers feelings. This also ties to girls liking dolls, brighter colors, texture, and want for communication. These are all biological studies and views on gender typing but the child’s environment usually reinforces these views.

Furthermore, I believe the environment has a larger role on gender typing than anything biological. My sister and I grew up with the “girly” toys, pink outfits, etc. but we also played sports, the Nintendo, GI Joes, cars, and so on. We had a little bit of both worlds. My parents never treated either of us “to girly.” Recently, I have viewed a family where the girls are treated with a great difference than the boys. The girls have early curfews or can’t stay out all night, they can’t be home alone by themselves, or go anywhere after dark without a male. These girls also are cheerleaders, dancers, and are not involved in any contact sports. On the other hand, the boys can go out without a curfew, or after dark, etc. This was brought upon by the parents. In this case there is a great deal of gender typing that the girls were not born with but instead were influenced by the parents. Even though science is slowly proving that male and female brains are different and there are gender differences at birth, the sociocultural diversity still plays a major role in the growth of a child.

Baby Boomers & Addiction

Drugs in the sixties were like internet, IPods, and cell phones in the millennium. Everyone uses them, some people can’t live without them, and as time goes on they will just get more advanced. The baby-boomers who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, experimented with drugs during their teenage years. Now, as they enter their middle age and headed for their senior years have decade-long addictions. Drugs have a huge impact on the physical and mental health of any human being. Many long-time users have not only physical problems but mental problems, most leading to suicide. Berk, speaks about elderly suicide and how during the past years elderly suicide has decreased. Still, elders are still killing themselves due to their great physical pain and losses whether it is a spouse, retirement, or etc. (600).

Within the article, “Balding, Wrinkled, and Stoned” Time Magazines’ writer Jeffrey Kluger states that millions of baby boomers now have decade long addictions. “There is an estimated 1.7 million Americans over age 50 addicted to drugs, according to the SAMHSA.” The lifetime of drug abuse also makes for a lifetime of bad health. From reduced body mass, slower metabolism, less efficient kidneys, strokes, heart attacks, and the list continues. The most common drug the boomers used was marijuana. After marijuana became “old” more advanced drugs like hallucinogens, cocaine, and heroin started to be used. One of the addicts in the article stated that “That was the era.” A few reasons these boomers are still addicts are hormonal components and psychosocial variables. More than that, many addicts lose a spouse, job, or are just bored. The factors that do drive recovery for these addicts are seeing their peers die from addiction or wanting to live life to the fullest. Unfortunately, when the boomers were teens and “enjoying the era,” they did not think of the